Solar energy gathering device

ABSTRACT

A solar energy gathering device includes a heat storage unit, a number of heat gathering units and a number of Fresnel lenses. Each of the heat gathering units includes a transparent glass block having a vacuum receiving space, and a heat pipe received in the vacuum receiving space and in thermally contact with the heat storage unit. The Fresnel lenses are attached on each of the glass blocks, and configured for converging solar light to the heat pipes through the glass bocks.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a device which gathers solar energy.

2. Description of Related Art

In typical solar energy gathering devices, a solar cell panel or a heat gathering pipe is used. No matter which component is used, a total of gathered solar energy is determined by a surface area of the component exposed to light, which can increase the cost of the solar cell panel or the heat gathering pipe.

What is needed, therefore, is a solar energy gathering device, which can overcome the above shortcomings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present solar energy gathering device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present solar energy gathering device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a solar energy gathering device in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the solar energy gathering device of FIG. 1 taken line II-II.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present solar energy gathering device will now be described in detail below and with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a solar energy gathering device 100 includes a heat storage unit 10, a plurality of heat gathering units 20 thermally connected to the heat storage unit 10, and a plurality of Fresnel lenses 30 located on the heat gathering units 20.

Each of the heat gathering units 20 includes a glass block 24 and a heat pipe 22. Each of the glass blocks 24 has a vacuum receiving space 248 receiving the heat pipe 22 therein. In the present embodiment, a shape and a size of the vacuum receiving space 248 are substantially adapted for those of the heat pipe 22. In other embodiments, the vacuum receiving space 248 can be a little greater than the heat pipe 22. The vacuum receiving space 248 helps heat preservation for the heat pipe 22. The glass block 24 is transparent to light. In the present embodiment, a top surface 249 of the glass block 24 is flat. In other embodiments, the top surface 249 of the glass block 24 can be in other shapes, for example, the glass block 24 is a in an elongated pipe shape, and the top surface 249 can be a cylindrical outer surface.

Each of the heat pipes 22 includes a main body 228 and a plurality of spherical knobs 226 extending from the main body 228 and in communication with the main body 228. The main body 228 is divided into a plurality of sections by the spherical knobs 226. An inner diameter of each of the spherical knobs 226 is greater than that of the main body 228. The heat pipe 22 is made of a thermal conductive metallic material, such as stainless steel, aluminium (Al), copper (Cu) and alloy of aluminium and copper. The heat pipe 22 can contain a fluid 28 therein. A distal end 222 of the heat pipe 22 is in contact with the heat storage unit 10 for transferring heat to the heat storage unit 10. In order to be better thermal contact, a heat conductive glue 26 is applied to an interface between the distal end 222 of the heat pipe 22 and the heat storage unit 10.

Each of the Fresnel lenses 30 includes a flat bottom surface 32 attached to the top surface 249 of one of the glass blocks 24, and a light incident surface 34 facing upwards. The light incident surface 34 has a plurality of concentric annular protrusions, and heights of the concentric annular protrusions are gradually increased in direction away from a center of the light incident surface 34. A focal point of each of the Fresnel lenses 30 is located at one of the respective spherical knobs 226. Preferably, the focal point of each of the Fresnel lenses 30 is located at a central line of the spherical knobs 226. As the glass block 24 is transparent, the Fresnel lenses 30 can converge light to the respective spherical knobs 226, such that the heat pipes 22 can receive solar energy, and thereby the heat pipes 22 are heated, then the heat pipes 22 can transfer the heat to the heat storage unit 10.

The spherical knobs 226 provide more space for receiving solar energy gathered by the Fresnel lenses 30. Other sections of the top surface 249 of the glass block 24, not having the Fresnel lenses 30, can directly receive solar light, and the solar light can reach the heat pipes 22 either through the glass block 24. No matter how small the heat pipes 22 are, all of the solar energy can be gathered to the heat pipes 22.

The heat storage unit 10 can be connected to a user's house.

It is understood that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiments and methods without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A solar energy gathering device, comprising: a heat storage unit; a plurality of heat gathering units each comprising a transparent glass block having a vacuum receiving space, and a heat pipe received in the vacuum receiving space and in thermally contact with the heat storage unit; and a plurality of Fresnel lenses attached on each of the glass blocks, and configured for converging solar light to the heat pipes through the glass bocks.
 2. The solar energy gathering device of claim 1, wherein the heat pipe comprises a main body and a plurality of spherical knobs in communication with the main body, the main body comprises a plurality of sections separated by the spherical knobs, and an inner diameter of each of the spherical knobs is greater than that of the main body.
 3. The solar energy gathering device of claim 2, wherein a focal point of each of the Fresnel lenses is located at a central axis of the corresponding spherical knob, and the Fresnel lenses are configured for converging the solar light to the respective spherical knobs.
 4. The solar energy gathering device of claim 1, wherein the heat pipe is made of a thermal conductive metallic material selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, aluminium, copper and an alloy of aluminium and copper.
 5. The solar energy gathering device of claim 4, wherein the heat pipe contains a fluid therein.
 6. The solar energy gathering device of claim 1, wherein a distal end of each of the heat pipes is in thermally contact with the heat storage unit.
 7. The solar energy gathering device of claim 6, wherein the solar energy gathering device further comprises a heat conductive glue applied to an interface between the distal end of each of the heat pipes and the heat storage unit.
 8. The solar energy gathering device of claim 1, wherein a shape and a size of the vacuum receiving space are substantially adapted for those of the heat pipe.
 9. The solar energy gathering device of claim 1, wherein the glass block comprises a flat top surface, and each of the Fresnel lenses comprises a flat bottom surface attached on the flat top surface.
 10. The solar energy gathering device of claim 9, wherein each of the Fresnel lenses comprises a light incident surface including a plurality of concentric annular protrusions, and heights of the concentric annular protrusions gradually increase in a direction away from a center of the light incident surface.
 11. The solar energy gathering device of claim 1, wherein the glass block is elongated, and the glass block comprises a cylindrical outer surface.
 12. A solar energy gathering device, comprising: a heat storage unit; a plurality of heat gathering units each comprising a transparent glass block having a vacuum receiving space, and a heat pipe received in the vacuum receiving space and in thermally contact with the heat storage unit, the heat pipe comprising a main body and a plurality of spherical knobs extending from the main body and in communication with the main body; and a plurality of Fresnel lenses attached on each of the glass blocks, and configured for converging solar light to the spherical knobs of the heat pipes. 